For decades, Wolverine has been the one X-Man who excelled at killing--the best at what he does. But Logan is not the only person to take up the mantle of Wolverine. His clone, Laura Kinney, might be better known as X-23, but she has also used the superhero name Wolverine--a title she has more than earned.
The "Old Man Logan" story received widespread praise for its dark narrative which followed Wolverine in his twilight years. More recently, Laura has starred in her own "Old Woman Logan" story. Here are ten reasons fans want to see Old Woman Laura again:
10 Laser Claws
SNIKT. It's the sound of adamantium claws sliding out of bared knuckles--an iconic sound effect fans everywhere are familiar with. But there is something even cooler than claws made from adamantium. That's right, laser claws!
In the opening scene of the "Old Woman Laura" story, Gabby fights arms dealers with laser claws. Later in the story, she likens these to lightsabers, expressing joy at how awesome they are. Sadly, they do not get used again. Just getting to have a fight scene Wolverine's laser claws make lightsaber sound effects is reason enough to want more Old Woman Laura stories.
9 Second Chances
The main plot of "Old Woman Laura" involves Laura Kinney completing one final task before she dies. Apparently, the technology used to clone her was faulty and she is dying, something not even the Sorcerer Supreme of her time could help her stop. The comic ends with Gabby telling Laura that they will speak to every god, hero, and other resource they know to find a cure.
It's refreshing to see a hero in the distant future get a second chance at life. Such stories often involve the characters meeting their demise. Having Laura overcome a seemingly inevitably death is exactly the sort of heroic triumph that superhero comics excel at.
8 Madripoor
The people of Madripoor made Laura their queen. The fictional Southeast Asian country has an interesting history in the Marvel Universe, frequently being home to various mutants and criminal organizations. It has a reputation as a seedy urban sprawl with ancient cultures and dark secrets lurking in the shadows.
It would be really interesting to see what this nation is like in a future where the heroes have won. What does Laura do as the queen? What is a monarchy like in a post-Doom world? Has the nation overcome its criminal past, or do secret menaces still lurk, plotting their return? The story possibilities are endless.
7 Madame President
There are three major government leaders in the "Old Woman Laura" story. The first is Laura herself as the Queen of Madripoor, while the last is Victor von Doom, but the most interesting of the three is the future President of the United States, Kamala Khan.
In the real world, President Kenendy's Catholicism and President Obama's blackness were attacked, so there is something inspiring about seeing a future accepting enough to elect President Khan. Representation matters, but more than this, Kamala is the type of kid who is going places in life and who puts her all into making the world a better place. It is not hard to imagine her going into politics to help improve the lives of others.
6 Doom of Doom
Doctor Doom's war against the rest of the world left a scar upon the lives of millions. After the war, he retreated back to Latveria, sealing off the country behind a dome. Only Latverian technology worked under the dome, which also blocked out the sun's light. Meanwhile, his dungeons held many heroes captive, among them Daredevil, Spider-Man, and even a certain hammer-wielding Asgardian.
Toward the end of the story, Doctor Doom finally dies. After his presence cast a shadow across the globe, it would be interesting to see a world without him.
5 Hopeful Future
Dark dystopian futures are a cliche at this point. Many people have begun noting how the modern world feels a lot like a dystopian cyberpunk novel from the '80s. That is one reason "Old Woman Laura" is so interesting: it is a future filled with hope.
Admittedly, not a lot about the future is known. However, Maria Hill comments that Doctor Doom is the last villainous world leader out there. This is a future worth believing in.
4 Old Woman Gabby
While Laura is a clone of Logan, Gabby is Laura's clone. She goes by two different superhero names in this story, being called Wolverine and being addressed by her classic superhero name, Honey Badger.
Gabby is one of the single bubbliest, most upbeat characters in comics. She is also a skilled fighter, but one who can see all the darkness of the world and still maintain a childlike excitement. The world needs more Gabby in it.
3 Grizzled Old Woman
There is a trope in stories where a grizzled old veteran warrior past his prime comes out of retirement and returns to join in the fighting one more time. And the trope is almost always about an old man. Old Man Logan. Old Man Hawkeye. Old Man Quill. Or to talk about other universes, the elderly Batman in The Dark Knight Returns and Han Solo in The Force Awakens.
While stories about women as warriors and leaders are finally becoming more common, these tend to be younger women. One reason "Old Woman Laura" is a great story is that it breaks through the glass ceiling in multiple ways. And it's not just Laura either. Carol Danvers, Kate Bishop, Kamala Khan, Janet van Dyne, and Maria Hill all get their time to shine as epic old ladies who can still kick butt all these years later.
2 Heroes Released
Doctor Doom held a number of heroes prisoner in the dungeons beneath his castle. How long they were imprisoned is unknown. Nor is it certain what sort of world they are returning to.
Seeing these heroes return to the world offers an abundance of possible stories involving them teaming up with Laura, helping her find a cure, or dealing with their own struggles as they adapt to a world that has left them behind. The heroes of this future might have won, but what does that mean to the heroes who lost their freedom in the fight?
1 New Possibilities
The great thing about a well-written story set in a possible future timeline is that it shows all sorts of possibilities of what characters can become. In the original "Old Woman Laura" story, Maria Hill is a cyborg with one artificial eye--not unlike her mentor, Nick Fury. Kamala Khan's Presidency shows her having achieved her full potential. Stark technologies have become a new gold standard in advanced body armors.
All of these details are really cool but they leave fans wanting more. Anything can happen in this future. The possibilities are endless.